Flora of North America species comparison

on substrate surface.

subterranean.

clustered, 0.6–1.2 cm diam., dominant main shoot with 3–6 branches mostly in lower 1/2.

treelike, many branched, branchlets numerous and strongly differentiated;

annual bud constrictions absent;

leaves spreading, pale green below lateral branchlets, prickly needlelike, 3.5–4 × 0.9–1 mm.

few and like upright shoots;

annual bud constrictions abrupt, branchlets mostly spreading.

round in cross section, 5–8 mm diam.;

annual bud constrictions inconspicuous;

leaves spreading to ascending, pale green, in 6 ranks, 2 upperside, 2 lateral, and 2 underside, equal in size, linear, 2.4–5.5 × 0.5–1.2 mm;

margins entire;

apex acuminate, lacking hair tip.

spreading, often somewhat ascending in distal 1/3 of branches, medium green, linear, 4–6 × 0.4–0.8 mm;

margins entire;

apex with narrow hair tip 2.5–4 mm.

3.5–12.5 cm, with remote pseudowhorls of appressed leaves, loosely branched into 2–5 alternate stalks, 0.5–0.8 cm.

2–5 on alternate stalks (if double, usually with stalks 5–8 mm), 15–25 × 3–6 mm.

sessile, 1–7 on tip of upright shoot, 12–55 mm.

1.5–2.5 mm, apex abruptly reduced to hair tip.

3.5 × 3.5 mm, apex short, acute, abruptly narrowing.

= 68.

= 68.